Yes there is room for improvement in this area. In my experience the object list is less than useful. Hence I only use it to locate the form events through it. Otherwise, I look for the field/button/etc on the form.
What I would like though it to be able to hook into all the events on all the objects placed on the form (including embedded ones), not just the form and then I could keep all my code in one place so I can clearly see what is going on and where. Of course I would then like a nice class browser. By separating the code form the form I may "break" the RAD nature of Notes but I can then re-use code that is similar to many forms and even across applications. I can start building a framework that makes my development work more efficient over time.

If I understood it correctly most of your wishes will come through in Designer 8.5. But you will have to wait until the end of this year.

@2 - that's a lifetime of projects in the meantime ... too late for me.

the object list is rather clunky. It's often not easy to tell which object is selected, and trying to get at the field beneath a hotspot is often quite tricky.

"...and locate the field in the design pane with a double click ..."

Hear, hear! One of my fondest wishes is to be able to find the field on the form from the object list!!! Sorting the object is a very close second wish!

@3 - ??? So Lotus have the suggestion in development, How on earth do you think you are going to get it faster than the next major feature release? This kind of request isn't going to make a random point release.

The new LotusScript, JavaScript and Java editors coming in 8.5 are only going to be for Agents and Script Libraries. All other design elements (Forms, Views, Pages, etc.) will continue using the current split-screen editors. I wouldn't get my hopes up that the development experience for those is going to be improved much in Designer 8.5.

Interestingly enough, the R5 Designer did list fields in alphabetical order in the object pane. Some wonderful change in ND6 ditched that approach.

Couple of months back I have posted the similar idea:

<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
inwidth = 500;inheight = 320;id = "8C984FF72A3FC61B862573A80081D5A5";//-->
</script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="{ Link }
</script>

ooops sorry here is the correct link:

{ Link }

I often use team studio configurator to find fields in forms that are overloaded with them. However it would be much quicker if they were just alphabetized in the designer UI.

Yes please. Also please sort script libraries alphanumerically so you can give them names that group them effectively. And while we are at it can we have the ability to open more than one sub at once in separate windows. This would be great as otherwise I am constantly scrolling up and down to compare code or move code from one sub to another.